Dr. George Hamm Dies

TYLER — Funeral services will be held on Thursday for Dr. George Hamm, former president of the University of Texas at Tyler. Dr. Hamm, who was 79, died Sunday following a brief illness. He served as president of U.T. Tyler from 1981 to 1998. Services are scheduled for Thursday morning at 11:00 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler. Visitation is Wednesday evening from 6:00 till 7:00 at the Stewart Family Funeral Home.

President Rodney Mabry says on the school website, �President Hamm influenced the university and the community in such important ways. Among his major achievements were such things as getting permission for downward expansion and building the wonderful R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center. He was a major force in the development of the university, and students, faculty and staff will be forever in his debt.� Mabry took office following Hamm�s retirement in June 1998.

During Hamm�s tenure as president, legislation was passed to transition UT Tyler from an upper-level university serving juniors, seniors and graduate students to a comprehensive four-year university enrolling its first freshman class in August 1998.